dguet

I read that La Griglia was closing due to losing their lease:

"the much beloved La Griglia, part of the Landry’s empire, is losing its lease at the end of the year (article in magazine in 2022)."

Since it's now 2023 and it's still open, is there any information on what's up? Unable to find any updates.

At the corner of Fairview and Park Streets, a gigantic, metal, utility pole is going up. There are others in the area being installed as well. Does anyone know what they are for? No one I have asked knows for sure.

I missed it. :( 

So please post anyone if and when it gets a wider release.

Wait! Found this just now:

http://www.numbersdocumentary.com/screenings

FYI in the Chronicle:

https://www.chron.com/culture/tv/article/numbers-nightclub-documentary-17574776.php

Thanks. I hadn't had a chance to drive by and see the name. That helps. I hope it's a good one!

3 hours ago, goofy said:

as a younger gay person, i do not and cannot understand the fixation on gayborhoods. I am integrated into my family. My friend group is diverse. A lot of the "old gay scene" seems over sexualized and i truly hate going to gay bars. when things are not needed, they are discarded. i'm not sad to see the times change. bulldoze it all and build an apartment. 

Gayborhoods were havens of safety for times when the outside world hated and attacked us. They made it easier for us to meet and organize and share strategies during dark times (AIDS, police raids, and hate crimes). It allowed for a community to develop, something much harder to do online. Also many of us did NOT have families that accepted us; many were ostracized by family, church, and even  the workplace, so the gayborhoods were lifesavers (literally). Hence the fixation for those of us who remember.

Count your blessings that you live in a more tolerant time. And you are right, if something is no longer needed, it should be discarded. But sometimes we throw the baby out with the bathwater, we forget our history, and we repeat old mistakes just to "build more apartments". Assimilation is great, but don't forget the world you are living in is very, very recent and there are people out there who would love dearly to strip us of our freedom and put us back in the closet.

However, I digress. To refocus, I am NOT talking about the Gay bars or the sex scene or the gayborhood, but merely that you could go out and invariably see a significant number of Gay and lesbian people at your favorite restaurant on almost any night, and certain nights and places catered to Queer folk even though they were not Gay businesses.

Perhaps we are still there, but too diluted into the mainstream to be noticed? <sigh>

4 hours ago, mollusk said:

It's all been going to Hell in a faaaaaabulous candy apple red handcart ever since the demise of the giant disco ball over Montrose & Westheimer during Pride. 🥷

Gurl, it was FABULOUS wasn't it?

I noticed what look like a new restaurant on lower Westheimer in the shopping strip just west of the Spur. I think it is a Mexican restaurant (Madiera?, Madera?) Close to the Mac and Cheese place. Anyone know what it is?

Yes, that is the conclusion I have reached, too. Assimilation is a double-edged sword. I suspect the younger generation doesn't even notice because they never saw the heyday of Queer Montrose. Sad. I miss it, so I was hoping there might be some suggestions of surviving gathering places other than the bars.

Sort of like the Elves fading across the western sea, fading away....

I have lived in Montrose for about 40 years, and as a Gay man, I have seen the decline of LGBT community from its heyday in the early '80's. I guess it is an inevitable aspect of cultural assimilation and modern technology. Nevertheless, I and my Gay friends have remarked on the rarity of seeing others of us out and about around Montrose. I don't mean in the few remaining Gay clubs, but rather local restaurants and cafes. It use to be you couldn't swing a cat without hitting one of Dorothy's friends. I  know many of the younger generation tend to rely more on online social interaction, but where are all the guys (and gals) in the 40-70 age group?

Is there a Cafe Adobe, Crossroads, Baba Yega's, La Strada's type hangout where us old hens now go to roost? BTW, here's an interesting link I had forgotten about: https://www.houstonlgbthistory.org/index-bars.html listing interesting places and things, many long gone. :(

Does anyone remember if there was another restaurant after Zoggy's closed? It would have been between 2010-14. Any news as to what is going into the remodeled site?

9 hours ago, Hans Gruber said:

Wasn't this Fu Kim?  The address was 2615 Fannin?

 

https://www.yelp.com/biz/fu-kim-grand-palace-houston

YES! I believe that is it! Thank you so much. It was driving me crazy trying to remember.

2 hours ago, editor said:

I remember when people would call Midtown "Little Saigon," but there was really more a pan-Asian thing going on.  There's only a few remnants of the Asian influence left in Midtown, like the auto repair shop at Main and Hadley with the sign written in what appears to me to be Chinese, but I could be wrong.  Here's how it looks in Apple Maps:

There was a pretty long article in the Chronicle a few Sundays ago about the last of old Chinatown, behind the GRB, about to be wiped out by the I-45 project.  The people interviewed didn't seem all that bothered by it. 

I'll note here that HAIF's very first sponsor was Jenny's Noodles, when it opened its first shop in Chinatown, now EaDo.

 

I may be wrong, but wasn't Kim Son originally in Midtown?

4 hours ago, dbigtex56 said:

There was another Chinese restaurant in Midtown which was part of a sort of Chinese mall. It was located on the superblock where Camedon McGowen Station apartments now stands, and it included the aforementioned restaurant, a grocery store, and other assorted small shops.
Does anyone remember the name of the mall and the restaurant located there?

 

Many thanks. You confirmed I am not completely senile. 😄 Hopefully I can hunt it down; I know someone who works for Preservation Houston, so maybe he can pin it down. I'll post if if I find out.

There was once a large Chinese restaurant in Midtown (I think Fannin or Main Street) that covered a city block and large parking lot. It had bas-reliefs of dragons on the walls that entered the property. The building was multistoried (two stories?) which included the large restaurant and banquet halls. They had Dim Son style service on Sundays for brunch/lunch.

It closed sometime in the '90's and the property was razed and rebuilt. I don't remember the exact location, but it was south of the area where Rich's Gay Bar (2401 San Jacinto) was previously located. It might have been the site where the Camden Apartments are built.

Have been trying to remember what it was called. Anyone know?

Dying to know what happened because it's so hush hush. Usually, they just post that the staff member moved on to another assignment or had a career change.

It appears the building is being renovated, despite the rumors of its coming demolition. Any one know what's going on with it?

On 4/25/2017 at 3:49 PM, gene said:

 

it doesnt matter if they are 8 or 10 feet wide....most seem to drive like they are 15 fee wide and take up two lanes OFTEN...especially at the curve etc...

i hate that they do that so i always try to steer clear of any buses on westheimer! 

I think part of the reason is that they, the bus drivers, are trying to maneuver over the cracked and potholed outer lanes on lower Westheimer. They also tend to drive a little too fast for that stretch of road. Once Westheimer goes to two lanes and the road is repaired (and instruct the drivers to slow down at curves), things will improve vastly!

On 4/21/2017 at 11:47 AM, j_cuevas713 said:

Do you have any documents or images you can post?

I found this article in the Chronicle:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-traffic/article/City-of-Houston-video-lets-locals-virtually-drive-11138748.php#photo-12520158

On 5/11/2017 at 1:42 PM, samagon said:

 

It is even more nonsensical to pretend that this is the best solution to alleviate traffic flow.

No one said it is the best solution, whatever that might be.

However, it's a solution available after study and compromise between opposing demands, but it still needs input from citizens to determine what improvements should be made.

Most of the foliage appear to have survived. The owner has already replaced the roof and seems to be aggressively putting the place back together. I fantasize that they will make some deal with the antique shop ower and expand their pation, but i am dreaming.

He's a very nice guy, but strange. He participates in Wiccan/Pagan religions and is often seen with them at the Gay Pride parade. i believe his lover died of AIDS about 15 years ago because they were in the room next to my partner.

He's a small spark of the "old Montrose."

more crickets chirp....

Damn crickets...

The Montrose Cafe on lower Westheimer is no more. I have been unable to find out what happened as the place was always popular (loved their mussels and Belgian Ales!). They just renovated the place for Christ's sake!

Any news appreciated. Also, its appears the site is being cleaned up; a new tenant, perhaps?

Very disappointed in how this turned out. This is a walkable area with a lot of pedestrians. Instead of placing potentially interesting commercial storefronts at street level they are stuck up on the second floor, with a stucco wall and a dark parking area on the bottom. Maybe the designers were skittish about flooding. Or they just didn't care. Either way it's a missed opportunity for the area.

Yes it can always be better, but I am pleased with the building. The site is attractive and made an effort to not disturb or damage the large oak tree. Pedestrian rightaway not signficicanly impacted. I was VERY afraid it would be more god-awful townhomes and that the tree would be damaged.

I do, by the way, live right around the corner.

You beat me to the punch. I too was interested in what anyone might know about the variance request. Please let me know if you find anything out; I live just a few blocks away.

PS Didn't notice that any other properties were involved.